PORT STREET LUCIE — Trayce Thompson doesn’t care.
The Mets’ new outfielder understands that wherever he goes — it’s over for the 32-year-old, who spent seven major league seasons with five different teams — he will be known as Klay Thompson’s younger brother. ing.
Treyce said Saturday he was “proud” to be the younger brother of the Warriors star. “We understand his place in the sports world, but me and our brother Michy are his biggest fans.” [Mychel]. He accomplished everything I wanted him to accomplish in life. I’m proud to be Klay Thompson’s brother. I don’t think of him as Klay Thompson – that’s my brother Klay.
“I’m so proud that it doesn’t bother me.”
Fittingly, Klay Thompson’s brother (and Mychal Thompson’s son) has a chance with the Mets.
Treyce, who is in major league camp on a minor league contract, said the Mets were the first team to target him this offseason.
Thompson can play in all three outfield slots and started in center field in Saturday’s 10-5 loss to the Cardinals at Clover Park, going 0-for-2, but he had a mixed record at the plate.
Thompson, who played basketball in high school but has always loved baseball, played consistently for the Dodgers until his breakout season in 2022, when he played in 80 games and posted an .860 OPS (including 13 home runs). I couldn’t get a hit.
He wasn’t able to replicate those numbers after one season, and struggled (.677 OPS in 36 games) until June when he was forced to the IL due to an oblique strain. When he was healthy again, he was traded to the White Sox, where he didn’t hit much either.
Asked about his down season, Thompson said he had a “weird” spring training when he represented Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic and was limited to at-bats against right-handed batters, who have a unique performance. Here are some possible factors: Better. He required “minor” surgery on his ankle in November, but he was not blamed for the injury.
Thompson anticipates the depth in the outfield that could be needed in the minor leagues. Harrison Bader and Starling Marte have injury concerns, and Brandon Nimmo and Tyron Taylor are likely to be members of the major league group.
Thompson, who has solid power, said the Mets’ early focus on hitters has improved their contact rate. Last season, Thompson’s strikeout numbers (77 in 179 at-bats) skyrocketed.
“When I’m here [making contact] I’m a pretty good player, at a rate that’s close to league average,” Thompson said. “Now, how do we get there is always something we can work on. …Because when I make contact, I make quality contact. So increasing it just a little bit is something we can work on. If you can do it, you could potentially make a big profit.”
